Bio-based Synthesis and Applications of SnO_2 Nanoparticles - An Overview

Incorporation of biosynthesis technique into nanotechnology is a significant step in nanoscience research because this green protocol of synthesizing nanoparticles is cost effective, quite safe and eco-friendly compared to the conventional chemical and physical methods. For these reasons, in recent years, this green and bio-based route for the preparation of nanoparticles has gained much attention, and many metal and metal oxide nanoparticles have been prepared by using this method in which plant source, bacteria, fungus and some biological materials are used. Among other metal oxide nanoparticles, tin oxide nanoparticles have attracted attention of researchers because of their wide applications in different fields like catalysis, energy storage, sensors, dyesensitized solar cells, medicine, and optoelectronics. This review provides an overview of various reports of synthesis of SnO_2 nanoparticles by biological means and also focuses on the properties of these green synthesized SnO_2 nanoparticles like photocatalytic activity, gas sensing ability and different biomedical activities.